For 15 straight months...I'm going to set an alarm to go off in your room at random times, multiple times a night. It's only fair.
Love,
Mom
Okay really, I won't. However - can you tell that my 15 month old is reverting back to his old ways of being up 2-3 times a night? (He had been down to one, at 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning which I was super happy with). I think the poor thing might be getting a molar, or having a tummy ache, or getting used to not nursing to sleep (although he IS getting a bottle instead now - and I'm going to wean him off the last nursing in the morning starting this coming week so I'll be totally done breastfeeding).
All in all - I really don't mind. I like getting more time with him any way I can get it. Until I can find a way to be home more during the week - I cherish every moment I have. and, there's something so wonderful about feeling needed.
I wonder if 15 year old D will really "need" me for anything. Besides money and a ride to wherever he wants to go.
I give myself a mantra a lot - that someday I'll miss this. He'll grow out of this, and it's such a short period of time. I already feel like it's all going so fast. It's becoming D's world and I'm just living in it...and loving every waking minute. :)
Friday, February 12, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Shake Shake Shake
Well I was awake at 3:59 am this morning - I had been up since 3:00 with a cranky D. However I never expected to hear a huge BOOM then feel my bed, floors and entire house shake for 15-20 seconds. I didn't expect to hear my pictures rattling on the walls and my entertainment center doors banging against the TV. My first fear after hearing the boom and feeling the shocks was that someone's house, or maybe even Fermilab in Batavia had exploded. It didn't occur to me that an earthquake could be the case...not in Illinois....and not so close to my home....
(pulled from ChicagoTribune.com)
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(pulled from ChicagoTribune.com)
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Mild earthquake rattles Chicago area
This farm field on Plank Road in Elgin near Hampshire was the epicenter of an overnight earthquake in Illinois, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. (Stacey Wescott/Tribune)
A mild earthquake shook northern Illinois this morning.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 3.8-magnitude quake at 3:59:33 a.m. centered in a farm field on Plank Road in Elgin near Hampshire and 3.1 miles underground. Initially, it had reported the magnitude as 4.3 with an epicenter about 5.5 miles east of Sycamore.
The quake was felt over a wide area -- from Wisconsin to Tennessee -- but there were no reports of any damage so far, according to the Kane County and DeKalb County sheriff's departments, which are closest to the epicenter.
"We got hundreds of calls," said DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott. "But we have no reports of damage or injuries."
The magnitude and epicenter were revised after the U.S. Geological Survey studied the "wave forms" from the quake, said Amy Vaughan, a geophysicist with the geological survey in Golden, Colo.
The nature of the fault activity that caused the quake was unclear, Vaughn said. Past quakes that have affected southern Illinois have been in the Wabash Valley or New Madrid seismic zones.
The fault systems in northern Illinois are not as well understood as those in other regions where earthquakes are more common, and more investigation will be needed to determine the cause of this morning's temblor, Vaughan said.
A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck near downstate West Salem on April 18, 2008. That quake was the worst to hit Illinois since 1968.
By contrast, the earthquake that leveled Haiti on Jan. 12 registered 7.0 on the Richter Scale, meaning it was about 1,600 times the magnitude of the one this morning. Many of the numerous aftershocks to hit the island were approximately the same magnitude as the quake that hit near Hampshire today.
Reports of tremors came in from Villa Park, Western Springs, Minooka, Batavia, Naperville, Elgin, Oak Lawn, Des Plaines and even Crown Point, Ind. In Chicago, reports came from the Northwest Side and Logan Square. The USGS has received thousands of reports from as far north as Madison, Wis., and as far south as Bourbonnais.
Emma Stewart, 8, goes to check on her 23 chickens in Maple Park after the earthquake. (Stacey Wescott / Tribune)
"The whole house shook," said Walter Mockus of St. Charles. "The chimes that hang were all ringing. It was so loud, I thought a plane had gone down."
"It was 4:02 a.m. and I was in bed and felt the whole house shaking," said Bob Bulmash of Warrenville. "But nothing fell down. It lasted about 3 to 5 seconds."
In Naperville, Julie Hannon said the quake shook her out of a sound sleep.
"When you feel an earthquake, it makes you wake up right away," said Hannon, who said she had experienced several quakes when she lived in Japan. "You could feel a shaking and you could hear a rumbling."
"I heard the plates I didn't wash from dinner rattle," said Alice Fabbre of Joliet. "The house shook, but it was very short. At first, I thought it was a snow plow going by.""It shook me out bed. I was was sleeping and the whole bed was shaking, it was that violent," said Rex Covington, who lives in Plato Center Township, about five miles west of Elgin. He estimated the tremor lasted 5 or 6 seconds.
"When I called 911, she said they felt the shock too and said their whole building in Geneva shook."
In Oak Lawn, Ron Cerevic, who lives on the second floor of an apartment building, said it felt "like someone hit the side of the building."
"The glass shower door shook violently," said Tracey Fry of Carol Stream. "It sounded like someone was in the shower pounding on the door."
-- Staff report
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Shedd
So I never got my post written about our trip to Shedd Aquarium a few weeks ago - and now looking at the pictures...I don't really have many. I had the new camera on the wrong setting - and the lens was smudged so all my photos turned out pretty crappy.
I do have this pic we got of D:
(No it's not a real turtle).
I was reminded as I was taking it of a photo I took of my niece on that very same turtle a few years ago. Actually, I remember now that I was 5 weeks preggo - and my sister & niece/nephew didn't know yet. My mom did and kept whispering questions about how I was feeling all day. Ha - funny the things I remember. Anywho - here's Amelia-cakes in that same spot, circa early 2008.
Time flies when you're havin fun.
I do have this pic we got of D:
(No it's not a real turtle).I was reminded as I was taking it of a photo I took of my niece on that very same turtle a few years ago. Actually, I remember now that I was 5 weeks preggo - and my sister & niece/nephew didn't know yet. My mom did and kept whispering questions about how I was feeling all day. Ha - funny the things I remember. Anywho - here's Amelia-cakes in that same spot, circa early 2008.
Time flies when you're havin fun.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Valentiney
Oh you who know me know that I'm not in to Valentine's Day...or most extreme holiday celebrations (minus Halloween, which I love!). However - this year I decided I at least need to get something for my little Valentiney!
Of course - the number one thing in D's life are books. So - his gift seemed natural. However, I didn't know HOW great of a present I'd find until I realized that one of his favorite book series' has a love-themed book.
The "How Do Dinosaurs ________" books are hilarious and D really likes them. Mostly he likes that he knows dinosaurs, knows what dinosaurs say (just ask him!), and knows there are mommies and daddies in most of the books too. (HUMAN parents for the dinosaurs no less).
Here's what we bought D for Valentine's Day
...and I broke down and read it to him tonight to soothe his crabbiness as a result of more teething. It worked (along with a touch of Motrin to help the poor guy). It worked and he loved it so much that after the FOURTH time through it I put it up and had to distract him with a different old favorite book.
I don't know if we'll get him anything else. After the success of this gift...who needs anything else? :)
Of course - the number one thing in D's life are books. So - his gift seemed natural. However, I didn't know HOW great of a present I'd find until I realized that one of his favorite book series' has a love-themed book.
The "How Do Dinosaurs ________" books are hilarious and D really likes them. Mostly he likes that he knows dinosaurs, knows what dinosaurs say (just ask him!), and knows there are mommies and daddies in most of the books too. (HUMAN parents for the dinosaurs no less).
Here's what we bought D for Valentine's Day
...and I broke down and read it to him tonight to soothe his crabbiness as a result of more teething. It worked (along with a touch of Motrin to help the poor guy). It worked and he loved it so much that after the FOURTH time through it I put it up and had to distract him with a different old favorite book.I don't know if we'll get him anything else. After the success of this gift...who needs anything else? :)
Friday, January 29, 2010
Baby
What happened to my baby? He's growing up TOO fast - and I realized I just don't have a baby anymore.
Yep - slowly I'd been filtering out bins upon bins of baby stuff, including clothes, blankets, old cloth diapers, bouncy seat/swing, play-yard, etc to my in-laws' house for storage as we prepared our house for showing. My sister got all of her borrowed items returned as well. I long ago returned the bassinet that I crammed D into for way too long - which I borrowed from my boss.
Over the past few days I've been setting aside the baby toys. The rattles, soft toys and teething rings to name a few. I've been stowing the old bottles, the food processor, breastmilk storage accessories and other "kitchen" items in a cabinet and they're about to be boxed.
The baby car seats have been long removed, the padding has even been taken out of our convertible car seats.
I've loaned my exersaucer to my sister for my 5 month old nephew's entertainment.
The Baby Einstein videos will be sent back to Las Vegas for my sister to re-store since she loaned them to D.
Dain and I realized that we can now take the changing pad off the top of D's changing table and store that as well as it hasn't been used for months and months. (He's 33 inches long folks...he can be changed on the floor).
Within the next month - I will be done breastfeeding (still hanging on at night and in the morning but I've gotten the feeling from both D and I in the past few nights that it's time to start the graduation process soon).
D walks everywhere. The only time he crawls now is if he's dead-tired or I'm chasing him around and under the dining room table.
When did my baby get so grown up?
I guess I knew that eventually everything "baby" would be stored away to make room for new (and it's a lot to store). But thinking back to my first few weeks at home with a newborn...I couldn't imagine that it would go so fast. Even after 2 long months of a monitor that limited my mobility with my baby. Even through a YEAR of being up three times a night. Even thinking back on the seemingly unending pumping sessions at work. Even knowing that we had D's pictures taken at Sears/JC Penney every 3 months and I have an 8x10 on the wall to show for each one. It still went faster than imaginable.
I recently bought some teeny tiny gowns for my SOON to come new niece. I couldn't believe how it seems like yesterday I was washing those things every few nights - because waiting for a full load of teeny tiny laundry would mean that D would have to go naked. I started thinking that I need an organized storage system so that I'll be able to find that stuff someday. But it will be awhile.
I look at my living room covered in wooden cars, Little People and musical instruments - watch D dance and clap along to the songs from Special Agent Oso - see the clock when I hear D in the morning and realize that he's made it 7-8 straight hours (remember how I said I was up 3 times a night for a year? this is HUGE) - listen to babbling, DaDa, MaMa, dinosaur roars and car motor sounds - watch D flip through book after book after book after book after book - and I realize that this is sooooooooooooooo much fun. I love it all. I just don't have that "baby" anymore. I have a toddler, though, who will always be my baby.
Yep - slowly I'd been filtering out bins upon bins of baby stuff, including clothes, blankets, old cloth diapers, bouncy seat/swing, play-yard, etc to my in-laws' house for storage as we prepared our house for showing. My sister got all of her borrowed items returned as well. I long ago returned the bassinet that I crammed D into for way too long - which I borrowed from my boss.
Over the past few days I've been setting aside the baby toys. The rattles, soft toys and teething rings to name a few. I've been stowing the old bottles, the food processor, breastmilk storage accessories and other "kitchen" items in a cabinet and they're about to be boxed.
The baby car seats have been long removed, the padding has even been taken out of our convertible car seats.
I've loaned my exersaucer to my sister for my 5 month old nephew's entertainment.
The Baby Einstein videos will be sent back to Las Vegas for my sister to re-store since she loaned them to D.
Dain and I realized that we can now take the changing pad off the top of D's changing table and store that as well as it hasn't been used for months and months. (He's 33 inches long folks...he can be changed on the floor).
Within the next month - I will be done breastfeeding (still hanging on at night and in the morning but I've gotten the feeling from both D and I in the past few nights that it's time to start the graduation process soon).
D walks everywhere. The only time he crawls now is if he's dead-tired or I'm chasing him around and under the dining room table.
When did my baby get so grown up?
I guess I knew that eventually everything "baby" would be stored away to make room for new (and it's a lot to store). But thinking back to my first few weeks at home with a newborn...I couldn't imagine that it would go so fast. Even after 2 long months of a monitor that limited my mobility with my baby. Even through a YEAR of being up three times a night. Even thinking back on the seemingly unending pumping sessions at work. Even knowing that we had D's pictures taken at Sears/JC Penney every 3 months and I have an 8x10 on the wall to show for each one. It still went faster than imaginable.
I recently bought some teeny tiny gowns for my SOON to come new niece. I couldn't believe how it seems like yesterday I was washing those things every few nights - because waiting for a full load of teeny tiny laundry would mean that D would have to go naked. I started thinking that I need an organized storage system so that I'll be able to find that stuff someday. But it will be awhile.
I look at my living room covered in wooden cars, Little People and musical instruments - watch D dance and clap along to the songs from Special Agent Oso - see the clock when I hear D in the morning and realize that he's made it 7-8 straight hours (remember how I said I was up 3 times a night for a year? this is HUGE) - listen to babbling, DaDa, MaMa, dinosaur roars and car motor sounds - watch D flip through book after book after book after book after book - and I realize that this is sooooooooooooooo much fun. I love it all. I just don't have that "baby" anymore. I have a toddler, though, who will always be my baby.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Picture Update
Yeah - I owe you pictures - I KNOW. I've been so busy with work, theater (upcoming Steel Mag's), chasing after a RUNNING 15 month old, etc. etc. etc.
So - here's the quick version of our trip to the DuPage Children's Museum a few weeks ago. (Actually more than a month ago!) I can't believe he's so much bigger than this already! You wouldn't believe how much he's grown and changed in the past month! But - for now - a look back...
Painting with water when we first arrived! He loved it - I think I may incorporate this in to our "creative" time at home:
LOVING the "gear grinder" as I like to call it - really just spinning wheels and turning knobs to make clicking sounds:
Making shapes out of other magnet shapes:
His favorite part - the mirror tunnel! He did this about 5 times before we had to remove him so another kid could go in:
The water-play area. He actually didn't get soaked!:
CRASHED on the way home:
Maybe someday I'll get to recent events - like his first trip to the city and SHEDD AQUARIUM from this past weekend. So stay tuned another month and maybe I'll get to it.
So - here's the quick version of our trip to the DuPage Children's Museum a few weeks ago. (Actually more than a month ago!) I can't believe he's so much bigger than this already! You wouldn't believe how much he's grown and changed in the past month! But - for now - a look back...
Painting with water when we first arrived! He loved it - I think I may incorporate this in to our "creative" time at home:
LOVING the "gear grinder" as I like to call it - really just spinning wheels and turning knobs to make clicking sounds:
Making shapes out of other magnet shapes:
His favorite part - the mirror tunnel! He did this about 5 times before we had to remove him so another kid could go in:
The water-play area. He actually didn't get soaked!:
CRASHED on the way home:
Maybe someday I'll get to recent events - like his first trip to the city and SHEDD AQUARIUM from this past weekend. So stay tuned another month and maybe I'll get to it.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
D's First Bad Review
No - not a bad review of him...although he did "show his temper" to the babysitter during lunch yesterday, apparently. (My mother-in-law will not believe that though).
Nope - this blog is D giving his first bad review.
My child who loves everything that even LOOKS like a book found the first (within his age realm) that he wouldn't even sit through or flip through. Although it was a fooler...
I (well, and D) traditionally love every book that Dr. Seuss wrote or endorsed. The new mini-board book versions are a hit in my house - and I can never say no to a new book. We went to Barnes & Noble tonight to look for something for me - and with no luck we walked back to the children's books. With the success of the mini Dr. Seuss books in my house - and their SUPER perfect size just right for reading on his lap in the car...I thought I could use part of my gift card on him. I pulled down "The Nose Book". I thought it would be a new favorite because 1> he absolutely LOVES "The Eye Book" and 2> all he wants to do these days is point out noses...mine, Dain's, my 5 month old nephew's last weekend, you name it AND 3> he immediately grabbed it and refused to let go.
He held it on his lap while he slept on the way home - and when we came in and sat down to read it...he pushed it away and got up. I set it down with him and his other books that he was flipping through later - and he just casually tossed it aside. WHAT?!?
So - D gives this book a thumbs down.
It will be going back to Barnes & Noble to be exchanged for "Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?" (to hopefully coax out that moo sound we've been working on) OR "In a People House" (a previous favorite) which I'm HOPING they put on the mini-books soon!
Nope - this blog is D giving his first bad review.
My child who loves everything that even LOOKS like a book found the first (within his age realm) that he wouldn't even sit through or flip through. Although it was a fooler...
I (well, and D) traditionally love every book that Dr. Seuss wrote or endorsed. The new mini-board book versions are a hit in my house - and I can never say no to a new book. We went to Barnes & Noble tonight to look for something for me - and with no luck we walked back to the children's books. With the success of the mini Dr. Seuss books in my house - and their SUPER perfect size just right for reading on his lap in the car...I thought I could use part of my gift card on him. I pulled down "The Nose Book". I thought it would be a new favorite because 1> he absolutely LOVES "The Eye Book" and 2> all he wants to do these days is point out noses...mine, Dain's, my 5 month old nephew's last weekend, you name it AND 3> he immediately grabbed it and refused to let go.
He held it on his lap while he slept on the way home - and when we came in and sat down to read it...he pushed it away and got up. I set it down with him and his other books that he was flipping through later - and he just casually tossed it aside. WHAT?!?
So - D gives this book a thumbs down.
It will be going back to Barnes & Noble to be exchanged for "Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?" (to hopefully coax out that moo sound we've been working on) OR "In a People House" (a previous favorite) which I'm HOPING they put on the mini-books soon!
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